Thassa

Thassa is the god of the sea, aquatic creatures, and the unknown depths. She also holds sway over less tangible concepts such as ancient knowledge, long voyages, and gradual change.

Impassive and slow to anger, Thassa is secure in the knowledge that there are no mortals and few gods who can threaten her status. Once her ire is aroused, however, it is as unstoppable as a cresting wave. She often speaks in the future tense, referring to what tomorrow will bring. She seldom laughs, and when she does, it is usually out of smugness rather than genuine mirth.

To most mortals, Thassa is the sea, and the sea is Thassa. The wind and waves, the tides, and the ocean's bounty, ranging from small fish to the enormous krakens--all these are Thassa's dominion. Krakens and other behemoths of the deepest oceans move at Thassa's command. She is protective of these creatures which she calls the greatest of her children, and she usually keeps them out of harm's way in the darkest depths locked by divine seals. A mighty kraken sighted close to shore is a sure sign of Thassa's displeasure. The sea has many metaphorical aspects that Thassa oversees as well: ancient knowledge, long-term change, introspection, voyaging, and repetitive patterns such as the tides.

Thassa usually appears to mortals in the form of a female Triton-like being with octopus-tentacle hair and a crown of crab legs. She seldom adopts the same size as her followers, preferring to be seen from a distance as she towers over the ocean. When she moves closer to the view of mortals, she takes many other forms, often shifting from one to another: a giant squid, an ocean storm, a school of sharks, a fog bank, or a crab, her favored animal. She sometimes speaks out of the ocean itself, in droplets hissing across the surface of the waves.

Alignment. Neutral

Realm. Nyx, the Realm of the Gods

Allies. Purphoros, though she occasionally disagrees with his rash actions

Enemies. None

Edicts. support those who would reform or overturn institutions, prevent cataclysmic change, offer treasure to the sea, defend or maintain temples to Thassa

Anathema. trying to keep a secret from Thassa, using magic to calm the sea's fury, upholding institutions that do not respect Thassa, bowing to every desire or demand of another god

Areas of Concern. gradual change, introspection, repetitive patterns, the sea and its creatures, voyaging

Worshipping Thassa and her Champions

Most of Thassa's dedicated worshipers are Tritons, and the vast majority of Tritons are wholly devoted to Thassa. Tritons spend much of their lives in Thassa's realm, with their god omnipresent. They weave prayers to Thassa into nearly everything they do.

Among Humans, Thassa is worshiped by those who rely on bountiful seas for sustenance or calm waters for safety. Sailors, fishers, and residents of Theros's coasts and islands all pay her at least nominal respect and sacrifice. Her center of worship on land is in the coastal polis of Meletis, where sailors and philosophers pray to her for guidance. The week-long Lyokymion festival (the Feast of the Melting Swell) marks the start of the new year by celebrating the bounty of the sea.

Thassa's most fervent Human worshipers offer prayers at high and low tide. If possible, they do so at the water's edge. At low tide they walk barefoot out onto the tidal flats, relishing the touch of Thassa's seabed.

Thassa's Champions

Alignment. usually neutral

Suggested Classes. Cleric, Fighter, Rogue, Wizard

Suggested Cleric Domains. Knowledge, Tempest

Suggested Backgrounds. acolyte, outlander, sage, sailor

Thassa's champions typically work on behalf of change, embrace new ideas, don't automatically defend the status quo, and wish to serve the god who controls pounding waves and massive krakens.

Thassa's Favor

In much the same way that the sea and its secrets simply exist, Thassa trusts that the lives and actions of her champions will serve her long-term goals because of their connection to her. What made the god of the sea turn her attention to you or how did she show her interest? The Thassa's Favor table offers a few possibilities.

Thassa's Favor

d6	Circumstance
1	You nearly drowned in a shipwreck, but Thassa answered your prayers for deliverance
2	You were found on the shore as a newborn, in a basket woven of ocean grasses.
3	You dreamed of a great kraken. When you followed your dreams to the sea, the kraken appeared to you and gave you Thassa's blessing.
4	You grew up on a fishing boat, and your parents taught you Thassa's rites
5	You were born with a pearl in your mouth, an obvious sign of Thassa's favor. You still have the pearl.
6	You have no idea why Thassa showed interest in you, and you might sometimes wish she hadn't.

Devotion to Thassa

Following Thassa means devoting yourself to a particular way of perceiving the world. Thassa herself seldom takes a stand on moral issues, preferring to let matters play out, but her mortal champions can't usually afford to be so patient. As a follower of Thassa, consider the ideals on the Thassa's Ideals table as alternatives to those suggested for your background.

Thassa's Ideals

d6	Ideal
1	Devotion. My devotion to my god is more important to me than what he stands for. (Any)
2	Knowledge. I will learn the secrets of the hidden depths. (Any)
3	Freedom. The sea can take me anywhere, and I'm not going to tie myself down. (Chaotic)
4	Bounty. The ocean always provides, and I will share its gifts with those less fortunate. (Good)
5	Change. Everything's just waiting to be something else, including me. (Chaotic)
6	Power. Like the waves, I answer only to Thassa. (Evil)

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Piety with Thassa

You increase your piety score to Thassa when you expand the god's influence in the world in a concrete way through acts that enforce her edicts.

Your piety score to Thassa decreases if you diminish Thassa's influence in the world, contradict her ideal of gradual change, or attempt to impose artificial order through acts in her anathema.

Thassa's Devotee

Piety 3+ Thassa trait

As a devotee of Thassa, you have proven yourself a worthy representative of the god of the sea. You can cast fog cloud with this trait. Fog created in this way smells strongly of the sea. You can cast the spell in this way a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Thassa's Votary

Piety 10+ Thassa trait

You can cast blink with this trait. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Thassa's Disciple

Piety 25+ Thassa trait

You are inspired by the tempestuous, uncontrollable nature of the sea; you have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or restrained.

Champion of the Sea

Piety 50+ Thassa trait

You can increase your Dexterity or Intelligence score by 2 and also increase your maximum for that score by 2.

December 1st, 2023